Latch device.



E. B. LYNAM.

LATCH DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED ntc. 3|. 1917.

1,284,393. Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

gwuanf o1.

Eowm B. LYNHM I I 0M rm: mull! nuns m. nlmunm. Mann/mm", u c

E. B. LYNAM.

LAICH DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 02c. 3|. [9".

Patented Nov. 12, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Eowm LTNHM rra EDWIN B. LYNAM, 01? LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS.

LATCH DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWIN B. LYNAM, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Little Rock, in the county of Pulaski and State of Arkansas, have invented certain new and trated in my pending application for patent filed Jan. 13, 1917, Serial No. 142,259, for

the purpose of holding the movable plates or other indicative elements in their operative position.

It is another and more particular object of my invention to provide in an indicator having a plurality of pivotally mounted indicator plates mounted for movement into and out of a suitable casing, a manually operable latch element carried by each of the indicator plates and a stationary part with which the latch elements are adapted to coact when the respective plates are moved toindicative positions. I

It is also a further general object of my invention to provide a latch device of the above character, which is simple and durable in its construction, effective and reliable in operation and which will not add materially to the manufacturing cost of the indicating device shown in my prior application.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists inthe improved construction, combination and arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, subsequently claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a direction'indicator showing the same mount= ed upon the body of a vehicle and illustrating one embodiment of my improved latch device;

Specification of Letters Patent. te t 12, 1913,

Application filed December 31, 1917. Serial N 0. 209,719.

Fig. 2is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 isa section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; r v

Fig. 4 is asection similar to Fig. 3 illustrating a slightly modified form of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification of the device;

Fig. 7 is a similar View illustrating another modification;

Fig. 8 is a sectional View showing still another form of the device;

F'g. 9 is a view taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing a modification of the formof the invention illustrated in Fig. 8.

Referring in detail to the drawings and more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, 5 designates a sheet metal casing which-is of elongated channel shaped form which is open upon one side andat its opposite ends. The medial wall of this casing at one end thereof is bolted or otherwise rigidly secured as shown at 6 to the downwardly projecting flange of an angle plate 7. The other flange of this plate is bolted as at 8 to the outwardly projecting horizontal arm of a bracket member 9 which 'inturn is bolted or otherwise securely fixed as at 10 to any convenient part of the vehicle indicated in the accompanying drawings.

Vertically disposed plates 11 are preferaibly formed integral with the ends of the downwardly extending flanges of the angle plate 7 and are disposed at right angles to said flange and riveted or otherwise securely fixed to the inner faces of the side walls of the casing 5 at their upper ends, as shown at 12. One of the plates 11 is provided above the casing 5 with an opening to receive a rod or bolt 13 and the other plate 11 has a vertically disposed slot 14 therein which opens upon the upper edge of the plate and into which the opposite end of the bolt or rod is adapted to be fitted. A retaining plate 15 is disposed across this slot on the outer face of the plate 11 immediately above the rod 13 and is securely bolted or riveted to said plate. While I have referred to this particular means of mounting the rod or bolt 13, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited thereto but other means which will be readily suggested to the skilled mechanic may be adopted in mounting the supporting rod.

16 designates the indicating plates, and to each of these plates along one of its longitudinal edges a metal bar 17 is riveted, said bar projecting longitudinally from one end of the plate 16 to provide an arm or extension 18. This arm is loosely engaged for pivotal movement upon the rod 13. It will be understood that any desired number the signal plates 16 may be mounted on the rod 13, suitable spacing washers or disks being arranged upon the rod between the arms 18.

Upon the end of the arm 18 projecting beyond the rod 13, a plate 19 is mounted for longitudinal sliding movement, said plate having a slot 20 therein to receive spaced guide rivets 21, said rivets holding an elongated plate 22 against one side of the plate 19 and over the slot 20 therein. In one end of the plate 19, a recess 23 extending in par allel relation to the slot 20, is formed. To

' one side of this plate, at the inner end thereof lugs 21 are secured which serve as reinforcements therefor and also as additional means for guiding the plate in its sliding and has its ends riveted or otherwise suit- -ably secured to the plates 11.

To the free end of the indicator plates 16 at one of its longitudinal edges a pad or abutment piece of leather or other suitable cushioning material indicated at 28 is secured. The indicator plate is actuated by a pull cord 29 suitably connected to the arm 18, as disclosed in my pending application, or in any other preferred manner. In the operation of the device as above described, assuming that the indicator plates 16 are n in their inoperative positions as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, when it is desired to display the indicative characters upon said plate, the operator pulls upon the cord or cable 29 of the selected plate, thereby swing- 'mg said plate outwardly and upwardly from the casing 5. When the plate is raised almost to a horizontal position, the latch plate 19 is moved upon the arm 18 against the action-of the spring 25 until the outer end of said plate below the slot 23 is disposed in a plane below the bar 27. The plate 19 is then released so that the spring 25 will contract and move the plate upon the arm 18 to engage its outer end with the bar 27, said bar fitting within the slot or recess 23 in the plate. Thus it will be apparent that the indicator plate 16 is sustained in its horizontal position, said plate projecting laterally from the upper end of the casing so that the characters on the plate will be clearly visible.

In order to release the plate 16 so that it may return to its normal position, it is only necessary to shift the plate 19 on the arm 18 to disengage the latch plate from the bar 27. downwardly by gravity and into the open side of the casing 15 until the abutment member or'cushion 28 strikes the body wall of the casing at its end. This cushion member obviates noise in the contact of the metal parts.

In Figs. 1 and 5 01"? the drawings 1 have shown a slightly modified form of the device wherein a guide plate 30 is secured by the bolts or rivets 21 within the slot 20 of the latch plate 19. Thus the edges of this slot will not contact directly upon the rivets, and lateral oscillation of the latch plate upon the arm 19 is more effectively prevented. In addition, in this form of the device I provide upon the longitudinal edges of the plate 19', laterally projecting guide lugs 31 which extend over the longitudinal edges of the arm 18. The spring 25is connected to the latch plate at one end and the other end of this spring is connected to a lug 32 fixed upon the arm 18; The bar 27' instead of being positively fixed at its ends to the plate 11 above described in this form of my device has one of its ends angularly bent as at 33, and the other end thereof provided with an opening to receivea cotter pin or key 34. It will be understood of course that the bar is inserted through openings in the plates 11, the angular end thereof contacting with the outer side of one of the plates while the key 34 is inserted through the opening in the opposite end of the bar adjacent the outer side of the plates 11. The operation of this form of the device is precisely the same as the above described form of the invention.

In Fig. 6 of the drawing I have illus trated another modification wherein the plate 19 is provided with the longitudinally projecting 'end portions 35 and 36 respec tively of relative different lengths. In the operation of this form of the device, when the latch plate is in its effective position, the projecting end portion 35 thereof extends over the rod or bolt 13 upon which the indicator plate is mounted while the other relative short end portion of the latch plate extends under the latch bar 27 This The signal plate 16 will then swing slidable latch member.

In Fig. 7 of the drawings I have illustrated another alternative construction wherein the latch member 37 is pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends as at 38 upon one side of the arm 18, said latch member being provided upon one end with an angularly projecting finger piece 39 and having a notch or recess 40 in its other end. This latter end of the latch member adjacent to said recess is preferably thickened or reinforced as at 41. The latch holding spring 25 is attached to the latch member at one side of its pivot and to the indicator plate 16. In the operation of this form of the device, as the plate 16 is elevated to its exposed position, the finger piece 39 is forced toward the end of the latch plate to rockthe latch member upon its pivot against the action of the spring and when the plate 16 is disposed in a horizontal position, pressure upon said finger piece is released so that the spring will immediately act to return the latch member to its normal position and engage the recessed end of the latch member with the bar 27, thereby retaining the plate 16 in its operative position.

In Figs. 8 and 10 of the drawings I have shown several additional forms of my invention wherein the bolt 13 is dispensed with,

and the projecting arm 18 of each indicator plate 16 is pivotally mounted as at 42 upon an individual bracket member 43 fixed to the bar 27 In this construction one of the plates 11 is provided at its end with an open slot or recess 44 in which the angular end of the bar 27 is fitted. Said angular end of the bar engages against the outer face of the plate 11 and is bolted thereto as at 45. The other end of the bar 27 is engaged through an opening in the other plate 11. The latch member 37, is similar to the latch member 37 above referred to but is provided upon one end with a laterally curved hook 37 and in addition to the finger piece 89, a second finger piece 46 may be fixed to the end of the arm 18. In these latter constructions, the latch spring is attached at one of its ends to the arm 18.

The bar 27 above referred to and with which the latch element engages, is illustrated in Fig. 8, while in Fig. 10 I have shown a separate bar 47 mounted in the plates 11 in a similar manner to the bar 27 hereinbefore referred to and with which the pivoted latch member is adapted to opera-- tively engage.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that the construction and manner of operation of the several illustrated embodiments of the device will be clearly and fully understood. My improved latch device, may be much more easilyand quickly actuated than the latch construction shown in my former application, and I have also found the improved latch more effective and reliable in practical use. It will be manifest that the device can be advantageously employed in connection with sig naling or indicating apparatus used upon motor vehicles, railroad trains and various other types of vehicles, or indeed upon stationary structures. The construction of the several parts of the improved latch in any one of its alternative embodiments, is quite simple, so that the device as a whole can be manufactured at relatively small cost. It is also strong and durable as well as e'liicient and reliable in practical operation.

IVhile I have herein shown and described the preferred form and structural arrangements of the several elements, it is to be understood that the device is susceptible of considerable change and modifications therein, and I therefore reserve the privilege of adopting all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with an indicative member mounted for swinging movement, of a spring held latch element mounted upon said indicative member at one side of its fulcrum, a stationary part, and means operable to swing said member to its indicative position and during such swinging movement actuate the latch element to position the latter for engagement with the stationary part when said member is disposed in its indicative position.

2. The combination with a pivotally mounted indicating member, having an arm extending upon one side of its pivot, of a spring hcld latch element mounted upon said arm, a stationary part adapted to be engaged by said latch element to sustain the indicating member in its indicative position, and means connected to said latch element to move said member to its indicative position and simultaneously position the latch element for engagement with said stationary part.

3. The combination with a movable indi cating member having an arm projecting from one end, a spring held latch element longitudinally slidable on said arm, a relatively fixed part adapted to be engaged with the latch element to sustain said member in its indicative position, and manually operable means to move said member to its indicative osition and simultaneously actuate the latch element and position the latter for engagement with said fixed part.

' part, and means for actuating the latch ele ment as the indicating member is moved to its indicative position to dispose said latch element in position for engagement with the fixed part.

5. The combination with an indicating member having an arm projecting longitudinally from one of its ends and means for pivotally mounting said arm, of guide means on said arm at one side of its pivot, a longitudinally slidable latch plate engaged with said guide means, said latch plate having a slot in one end, a keeper member disposed in spaced relation to the pivot of said arm, and a spring connected to the latch plate to move the same in one direction and engage the keeper in said slot to sustain said member in its indicative position.

6. The combination with a fixed plate and an open sided casing secured thereto, said plate having angularly disposed end portions, of a rod removably mounted in the end portions of said plate, an indicating member pivotally mounted on said rod, a bar extending between the end portions of said plate in parallel relation to said rod, and a spring held latch element carried by the indicating member and movable longitudinally with respect thereto, said latch element being adapted for operative engagement with said bar to sustain the indicating member in its indicative position.

7 The combination with a fixed plate and an open sided casing secured thereto, said M plate having angularly disposed end portions, of a rod removably mounted in the end portions of said plate, an indicating member having an arm projecting longitudinally from one end thereof, said arm being pivotally mounted intermediate of its ends upon said rod, a latch plate mounted upon said arm on the opposite side of the rod with is spect to the indicating member, a bar extending between the angular end portions of said plate, and a spring connected to said latch plate to move the same in one direction and hold said plate in operative engagement with the bar to sustain the member in its indicative position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

EDWIN B. LYNAM.

WVitnesses S. H. KAHM, H. E. GRUVER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

